Fireworks ‘misery’ sparks fresh plea for action as calls grow for tougher national laws
Fireworks ‘misery’ sparks fresh call for action
Residents across West Yorkshire are being urged to have their say on the future of fireworks, amid growing concerns over the impact of loud and late-night displays on local communities.
With reports of fireworks being used at all hours and throughout the year, councils and campaigners say the issue is causing increasing distress for residents, pets and vulnerable people.
Now, a national Government consultation is giving people the chance to call for tougher rules on fireworks and their use.
The consultation intro fireworks and pyrotechnics ends on October 7 - and Bradford Council has called for residents to make their voices heard.
The local authority is currently running a ‘Bang Out of Order’ campaign to raise awareness of the distress caused by noisy fireworks throughout the year and late at night.
Over recent weeks, Council officers have liaised with local wedding venues to get their support in stopping people using fireworks as part of the celebrations, and with local fireworks campaign groups to raise awareness and encourage people to think again before using fireworks.
Councillor Ian Walker, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Communities, said: “Fireworks have been a headache for people living in our district for many years and we share the frustration felt by many.
“We would encourage people to take part in this consultation and try to get national laws changed which will finally cut the noise and distress experienced by so many.”
The link to the survey is – https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fireworks-and-pyrotechnics-in-the-uk/fireworks-and-pyrotechnics-in-the-uk
If you cannot respond online, you can send your response by email to [email protected], or sending a written response to Fireworks – Sectors Policy Team, Office for Product Safety and Standards, Department for Business and Trade, Old Admiralty Building, Admiralty Place, London SW1A 2DY.
In 2021 a cross party review of firework misuse by Bradford Council concluded that without change in national laws, tackling the issue in Bradford would be an “impossible task.”